Northumberland Probate Records

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Court Jurisdictions

Before 1858, every town and parish in Northumberland was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts.  When looking for the will of an ancestor, search the courts in the order given.  Search indexes first.  For indexes, click on the court name links above.

Here is a list of Northumberland parishes beginning with the letter A and the pre-1858 ecclesiastical courts that jurisdiction over them.  For other parishes, click on a letter link:

PARISH	PRIMARY COURT	SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
Allen, West	Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of York in Hexham and Hexhamshire	2 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory) 4 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 5 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 6 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Allendale	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Allendale St Peter	Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of York in Hexham and Hexhamshire	2 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory) 4 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 5 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 6 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Alnham	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Alnmouth	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Alnwick	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Alnwick St Paul	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Alwinton with Holystone	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ancroft	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Bamburgh	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Beadnell	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Bedlington	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Belford	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Bellingham	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Beltingham	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Benton, Long	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Benwell St James	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Berwick upon Tweed [Holy Trinity]	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Bingfield St Mary	Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of York in Hexham and Hexhamshire	2 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory) 4 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 5 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 6 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Birtley	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Blanchland	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Blyth	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Bolam	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Bothal	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Branxton	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Brinkburn Chapelry	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Byker [St Michael]	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Byrness	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Bywell St Andrew	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Bywell St Peter	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Cambo	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Carham	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Chatton	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Chillingham	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Chollerton	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Corbridge	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Cornhill on Tweed	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Corsenside	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Cramlington	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Cresswell	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Dinnington	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Doddington	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Earsdon	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Edlingham	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Eglingham	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ellingham	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Elsdon	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Elswick, High St Paul	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Embleton	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Falstone	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Farne Islands	Search the courts of the surrounding parishes	.
Felton	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Fenton	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ford	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Gosforth	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Greenhead	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Greystead	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Haltwhistle	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Hartburn	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Haydon	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Hebron	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Heddon on the Wall	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Hexham	Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of York in Hexham and Hexhamshire	2 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory) 4 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 5 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 6 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Holy Island	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Horton	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Howick	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Humshaugh	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ilderton	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ingram	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

Post-1857 Probate Records

Beginning in 1858, the government took over the settlement of estates and all wills are now probated through the Principal Probate Registry system.  The system consists of 11 district registry offices and 18 sub-district registries, located throughout England and Wales, and the principal registry office located in London.  The records are available through the office of Her Majesty's Courts Service.  To learn more, go to the HMCS website.

A country-wide surname index to the records is available, so it is much easier to look for post-1857 wills.  The indexes for 1858-1957 and the records for 1858-1925 are available on microfilm at the Family History Library.